Sanitary-lid composition

ABSTRACT

A drinking-cup composition having a drinking cup; a drinking-cup lid that is removably attached to the cup, the lid having a substantially circular raised-ridge portion and a perimeter-edge portion, the substantially circular raised-ridge portion being positioned inside the perimeter-edge portion; the raised-ridge portion having an orifice within the raised ridge through which a liquid can pass from one side of the lid to the other; a film that is removably attached to the raised-ridge portion; and the film shape having a body portion and a pull-tab portion, the body portion having a perimeter-edge shape that is substantially similar to at least a portion of the raised-ridge-portion shape.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/648,791 filed on May 18, 2012 and hereby incorporates herein by reference all prior claims of the priority application.

BACKGROUND

There remains a need in the art for sanitary drinking-cup lids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A drinking-cup composition having a drinking cup; a drinking-cup lid that is removably attached to the cup, the lid having a substantially circular raised-ridge portion and a perimeter-edge portion, the substantially circular raised-ridge portion being positioned inside the perimeter-edge portion; the raised-ridge portion having an orifice within the raised ridge through which a liquid can pass from one side of the lid to the other; a film that is removably attached to the raised-ridge portion; and the film shape having a body portion and a pull-tab portion, the body portion having a perimeter-edge shape that is substantially similar to at least a portion of the raised-ridge-portion shape.

A drinking-cup-lid composition having a drinking-cup lid that can be removably attached to a drinking cup, the lid having a substantially circular raised-ridge portion and a perimeter-edge portion, the substantially circular raised-ridge portion being positioned inside the perimeter-edge portion; the raised-ridge portion having an orifice within the raised ridge through which a liquid can pass from one side of the lid to the other; a film that is removably attached to the raised-ridge portion; and the film shape having a body portion and a pull-tab portion, the body portion having a perimeter-edge shape that is substantially similar to at least a portion of the raised-ridge-portion shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a exploded side-perspective view of an embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a top view of an embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a side view of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a film-shape embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a film-shape embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a film-shape embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a film-shape embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a film-shape embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side view of an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

Embodiments are directed to a sanitary drinking-cup lid. Very generally, the embodiments include a removable film 30 that when removed from drinking-cup lid 20 reveals a sanitary drinking-cup-lid surface.

As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment includes drinking cup 10, drinking-cup lid 20, and film 30. Another embodiment includes drinking-cup lid 20 and film 30.

Drinking cup 10 can be any known drinking cup; disposable or non-disposable. There is no limitation directed to the type of drinking cup 10 that may be used in the embodiments and persons of ordinary skill in the art will be able to select useful drinking cup 10 without having to exercise undue experimentation.

Disposable drinking-cup lids are well-known, and in embodiments, drinking-cup lid 20 can be any known drinking-cup lid having a raised-ridge portion 22 that contains a drinking orifice 26 through which a liquid can pass. There is no limitation directed to the shape of raised-ridge portion 22, and in embodiments, raised-ridge portion 22 is substantially circular.

In embodiments, drinking-cup 20 also has a perimeter-edge portion 24 that allows the drinking-cup lid 20 to be removably attached to drinking cup 10. In embodiments, perimeter-edge portion 24 is substantially circular and has a size that allows it to be removably attached to drinking cup 20.

As shown in the figures, embodiments include a film 30 that is removably attached to a drinking-cup lid 20. There is no limitation directed to the useful shapes of film 30, and useful shapes are illustrated in the figures. Film 30 can be made from any known polymer or polymer blend; a non-limiting list of useful polymers includes polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and combinations thereof.

There is no limitation directed to methods for removably attaching film 30 to drinking-cup lid 20, and as a non-limiting example, any known method for attaching a plastic film to a plastic substrate may be used. Methods for attaching plastic film 30 to drinking-cup lid 20 include using a layer of adhesive 32. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the adhesive 32 is initially applied to film 30 thereby forming an adhesive 32 and film 20 composite, and then the film-and-adhesive composite is applied to the drinking-cup lid surface. In an alternative method, adhesive 32 is applied to a substantially circular raised-ridge portion 22 thereby creating a drinking-cup-lid and adhesive composite; film 20 is then applied the composite making film 20 removably attached to drinking-cup lid 20. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A drinking-cup composition comprising: a drinking cup; a drinking-cup lid that is removably attached to the cup, the lid having a substantially circular raised-ridge portion and a perimeter-edge portion, the substantially circular raised-ridge portion being positioned inside the perimeter-edge portion; the raised-ridge portion having an orifice within the raised ridge through which a liquid can pass from one side of the lid to the other; a film that is removably attached to the raised-ridge portion; and the film shape having a body portion and a pull-tab portion, the body portion having a perimeter-edge shape that is substantially similar to at least a portion of the raised-ridge-portion shape.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the body portion has a shape that is substantially semicircular.
 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the orifice is within a planar portion of the raised ridge.
 4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the planar portion of the raised ridge defines an end portion of the composition's longitudinal length.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the film is attached to a planar portion of the raised ridge.
 6. A drinking-cup-lid composition comprising: a drinking-cup lid that can be removably attached to a drinking cup, the lid having a substantially circular raised-ridge portion and a perimeter-edge portion, the substantially circular raised-ridge portion being positioned inside the perimeter-edge portion; the raised-ridge portion having an orifice within the raised ridge through which a liquid can pass from one side of the lid to the other; a film that is removably attached to the raised-ridge portion; and the film shape having a body portion and a pull-tab portion.
 7. The composition of claim 6, wherein the body portion has a shape that is substantially semicircular.
 8. The composition of claim 6, wherein the orifice is within a planar portion of the raised ridge.
 9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the planar portion of the raised ridge defines an end portion of the composition's longitudinal length.
 10. The composition of claim 6, wherein the film is attached to a planar portion of the raised ridge. 